The challenge - Two teams of 6 women attempting to swim an English Channel relay.

Each swimmer wearing 1 x swim hat, 1 x standard swimming costume, 1 x pair of clear lens goggles and nothing else!

Back in 2019 a bunch of mixed ability female swimmers sat in a pub discussing what was involved in training for and attempting an English Channel relay swim.

It seemed ridiculous at the time when there were several of us who were not even competent at front crawl and most of us had not swum in open water without a wetsuit - EVER!

Fast forward to Summer 2021 and despite the many challenges of training through the pandemic and colder than normal spring temperatures, we are well drilled and ready to give it our absolute all.

Along the way we faced closed pools and then open water venues too, resorting to breaking ice to dip in our local river in an attempt to retain our cold water acclimatisation through the winter.

Our cold water training really ramped up at the end of April when we started, what is known in the trade as double-dipping.

This involves weekly trips to the sea to freeze our asses off, not once, but twice each Sunday morning. We steadily increased our swim (if you can call it that) time each week and by the end of May, we were achieving 2 x 1-hour dips in 12-degree water.

Hardcore, I hear you shout! That's not what our coach would say if we dared to venture back to shore before our target time was up. Mrs Henigan (Victoria Wood reference for those in the know) was always on hand to tell us that we COULD do it, even if we didn't want to.

All we talked about was socks, thermal vests, how knickers had become surplus to requirements and the best cups for not spilling your tea when you are shaking uncontrollably, just on the right side of hypothermia.

Then came Dover, the home of Channel swimming. We weren't sure if we belonged or, in fact, why we'd got out of bed before dawn to drive all the way there.

The sea was still so cold but we found swimmable waters in the harbour with the ferries.

And then came the day of our qualifying swim.

It involved 1.5 hrs in sub 16-degree water, then out for a warm-up before getting back in for a further 1 hour. We were worried about the water being to warm. No need. On the day it was 13 degrees.

So we lined up with the pros

with our war paint on.....

... and after much shivering, shouting at the water and a whole lot of encouragement from our teammates, a few hours later we had done it!!!

10 swimmers qualified with 2 to follow a week later.

There have been tears on the beach through fear and cold and the sea has churned us up and spat us out on several occasions, but nothing was going to stop this incredible team.

Together we had learned to embrace the cold...

the dark......

and whatever else had been thrown at us....

... and thanks to our unbreakable team spirit and the support of a brilliant and dedicated coach (We love you Amanda Sharples), we are finally feeling confident.

The setbacks and challenges have only brought us closer together and we are feeling privileged to have been part of such a life-enriching journey.

We are dedicating our Channel Swim to those affected by Bowel Cancer. As a team, we have some close and personal connections with the disease.

We aren't just raising money, we want you to read the message below.

Bowel cancer is very treatable but the earlier it’s diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. People whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher chance of successful treatment than those whose cancer has become more widespread.

If you have any symptoms, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of people with bowel problems.

To read more about what to watch out for, click this link

Thank you for your support, the girls ALIVE 2021 Channel relay team xx